Tuesday, October 16, 2018

A story of the hymn, “All Creatures of our God and King [O Sifuni Mungu],” by William Petersen

Saint Francis of Assisi is perhaps best known as a nature lover. You may recall the painting in which the Italian artist Giotto depicts him feeding the birds. One writer spoke of him this way: “With smiles he met the friendless, fed the poor, freed a trapped bird, led home a child. Although he spoke no word, his text, God’s love, the town did not forget.”

A soldier in his early years, Francis resolved to imitate the life of Christ. So, he renounced his wealth and founded the Franciscan Order of Friars. He and those who followed him became itinerant evangelists, preaching and helping the poor of Italy. He wrote sixty hymns of praise and worship and encouraged church music in every way he could.

The original text of this hymn was probably written by Francis during the last months of his life when he was suffering intense pain and was almost blind. 

Scriptures: Psalm 145:10-11; Psalm 148:1, 7-13; Romans 11:36 
Themes: Praise, Worship, Adoration 

Lyrics of the Hymn:
All creatures of our God and King, 
Lift up your voice and with us sing, 
Alleluia! Alleluia! 
Thou burning sun with golden beam, 
Thou silver moon with softer gleam! 

O praise Him, O praise Him! 
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Thou rushing wind that art so strong, 
Ye clouds that sail in heaven along, 
O praise Him! Alleluia! 
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice, 
Ye lights of evening, find a voice! 

Thou flowing water, pure and clear, 
Make music for thy Lord to hear, 
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright, 
Thou givest man both warmth and light! 

And thou, most kind and gentle death,
Waiting to hush our latest breath, 
O praise Him! Alleluia! 
Thou leadest home the child of God, 
And Christ our Lord the way hath trod. 

Let all things their Creator bless, 
And worship Him in humbleness, 
O praise Him! Alleluia! 
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, 
And praise the Spirit, Three in One! 
By FRANCIS OF ASSISI (1182–1226) Translated by William H. Draper (1855–1933)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 3-4). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

A story of the hymn, “Amazing Grace,” by William Petersen


The tombstone of John Newton, the author of this hymn, tells his story: “John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slavers in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had so long labored to destroy.” Those words were written by John Newton himself, and they are a testimony to God’s transforming power.

After years as a hardened slave trader, Newton met Jesus Christ, and his life was dramatically turned around. Throughout his years of ministry, God’s amazing grace remained central to his thinking. When it was suggested he retire at the age of eighty-two due to poor health and a failing memory, he responded, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.”

Scriptures: John 1:16-17; Romans 5:20-21; Ephesians 2:6-9
Themes: Grace, Salvation, Conversion

Lyrics of the Hymn:
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound—
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
By JOHN NEWTON (1725–1807) Stanza 5 by John P. Rees (1828–1900)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (p. 611). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.


Tuesday, October 2, 2018

A story of the hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” by William Petersen


Robert Robinson had always been prone to wander. Apprenticed to a barber at fourteen, he spent more time reading and playing with friends than cutting hair. He became the leader of a notorious gang, and he shamed his family so much that they practically disowned him. Then, still a teen, he went to a George Whitefield meeting, intending to ridicule it; instead, he almost fell asleep in it. But then the preacher shouted out a Bible verse: “O generation of vipers; who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come” (Matthew 3:7, KJV). That evening Robinson was converted. After his apprenticeship was over, Robinson went into the ministry. He wrote this hymn at the age of twenty-three as he served at the Calvinistic Methodist Church in Norfolk, England.

Late in life, Robinson did stray from the faith and drifted far from the Fount of every blessing. One day he was riding in a stagecoach and sitting by a woman who was reading a hymnbook. She showed him the hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” saying how wonderful it was. He tried to change the subject but couldn’t. Finally, he said, “Madam, I am the poor man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds to enjoy the feelings I had then.”

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 7:10-12; Zechariah 13:1; 1 Peter 2:23-25
Themes: Praise, Redemption, Grace

Lyrics of the Hymn:
Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise:
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount—O fix me on it,
Mount of God’s unchanging love.

Here I raise mine Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home:
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wand’ring from the fold of God;
He, to save my soul from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.

O, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter,
Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart; Lord, take and seal it;
Seal it for Thy courts above.
By ROBERT ROBINSON (1735–1790)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 371-372). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.